Classic features lend ships charm

Of all the modern cruise ships built in the past few years that have called here, Arcadia in port recently impressed me.

It had a proper funnel that certainly enhanced its more modernistic appearance.

And the same could be said about the 1991-built Pacific Dawn (ex Regal Princess), here last week and also sporting a funnel.

However, as far as appearances go, neither can compete with the classic lines of yesteryear which were portrayed by Saga Ruby, on its first visit last Friday.

For this graceful gem of the past has the once traditional ocean liner profile with its notable sheer of the hull, features that are no longer incorporated in the modern cruise ship designs.

The ship was the last vessel of its type to be built in the United Kingdom.

It is also one of the diminishing number of vessels still in service that were built under the Swan Hunter name, one that was associated with many ships built in the past for owners serving the New Zealand trades.

Ordered by the Norwegian America Line, the ship was launched as Vistafjord on May 15, 1972, at the Wallsend yard of Swan Hunter Shipbuilders Ltd.

Delivered exactly 12 months later, the vessel commenced its maiden voyage from Oslo to New York on May 22,1973.

After that initial crossing it was used extensively on cruises from New York to the Bahamas.

Vistafjord was an enlarged version of NAL's 24,528gt Sagafjord built in France in 1965.

The 191.09m long, twin-screw vessel is powered by two, nine-cylinder Sulzer diesels supplied by the G. Clark & N. E. M. Ltd of Wallsend.

Their combined output of 24,000bhp give the ship a service speed of 21 knots. Because of falling profits in the operation of these two vessels, NAL sold them to the Cunard Line in October, 1983.

And while their port of registry was changed from Oslo to Nassau, they retained their NAL names. Vistafjord received its first change of name when it was transferred to the British flag on December 10,1999.

It revived the name Caronia, one that had been associated with Cunard liners since 1905. The ship continued its service with Cunard until November, 2004, when it was sold to the Saga Shipping Company Ltd of Folkestone.

Then after an extensive refit at Malta the ship re-entered service in March, 2005, as the London-registered Saga Ruby. The 24,492gt veteran provides berths for 670 passengers in 376 cabins.

Its former running mate which made one visit here as Sagafjord and three as Saga Rose, was withdrawn from service late last year. It is being replaced this month by the smaller 18,591gt Astoria, which has been renamed Saga Pearl II.

Built in 1981 and operated as Astor for the next four years, it called here in January, 1999, during the seven-year period it cruised under the name Arkona.

Incidentally, Saga Shipping's vessels cater exclusively for senior citizens who are aged 50 years and over, on round-the-world and shorter cruises. Last year reports were always coming to hand of container ships laid-up around the world because of the downturn in the global economy.

One example, Italia, here last week, only returned to service last month.

The ship has been chartered by Mediterranean Shipping for their Capricorn service. The 37,209gt, 3029teu vessel was completed in February, 1991, by Howaldtswerke- Deutsche Werft A. G, Kiel.

Named Zim Italia, it was the third of eight 21-knot sister ships ordered by Zim Integrated Shipping Services Ltd of Haifa that were delivered between June, 1990, and August, 1992.

Before returning to service recently, Zim Italia had been laid-up at Davao in the Philippines since February 17, 2009.

The ship with its shortened name is now owned by Icon Containership III and is registered in the Marshall Islands.

It was one of about 10 Zim ships that were idle at Davao last year.